Here's why Gurmehar Kaur was named in Time Magazine's list of Next Generation Leaders for 2017

Daughter of Kargil martyr, Gurmehar Kaur, who came into the limelight for raising her voice against the violence that took place at Ramjas College in Delhi, has featured in Times Magazine’s list of Next Generation Leaders for 2017. While mentioning her in the list, Times Magazine hailed her as a “Free speech warrior”.

Kaur, who had staged a strong protest along with other students of Delhi University against the violence that occurred at Ramjas College involving Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), also posted a picture of herself holding a placard that read, “I am a student from Delhi University. I am not afraid of ABVP. I am not alone.”

While targetting Kaur, people dug out an old video where the 20-year-old in a bid to promote peace between India and Pakistan held a placard that read, “Pakistan did not kill my dad. War Killed him.” After the video went viral on social media, Kaur found herself at the receiving end of a barrage of criticism with some of the renowned personalities mocking her. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju had tweeted saying, “Who’s polluting this girl’s mind?”

Kaur was mercilessly trolled and was subjected to verbal abused and rape threats. “Why should I keep quiet? While I never asked for it, I was pushed to the forefront. I realized that people listen to what I say. And if I have something positive to say, why shouldn’t I say it?” Gurmehar was quoted as saying.

The development comes just days after Gurmehar Kaur warned teens for making a meme on her while stating that the posts uploaded by the 18-year-olds was defamatory and did not constitute as freedom of speech. Gurmehar Kaur told the teens that if they did not take the posts down she would report them to the police.

Meanwhile, popular publishing house Penguin Random House India is all set to publish Gurmehar Kaur’s ‘personal work of nonfiction’ titled Small Acts of Freedom. “When people ask me where I gather strength from, I cannot just point at one incident. My story does not start with me,” Kaur stated.

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